​The hippo is the second biggest land mammal with the first one being an elephant. A hippo can weigh up to 9000 pounds. In the water, it’s practically invincible. Traveling hippo waters is not encouraged during the day since the creatures will tip the boats and view travelers as threats, which many are.

I remember as a kid, a sideshow that included a large trailer that contained a hippo. The poor animal did not even have enough room to stand instead it labored to breath as it lay on its side. Handlers kept spraying it with water, I remember feeling sorry for it. Water is an essential part of a hippo’s life. Water represents our emotions. dreams, intuition, and creativity. Quite frankly, we’ll not see a hippo on our way to work and probably not at the zoo either. The river horse may come via your dreams or even conversation.

What message does this gigantic creature have for you? Often people use the word hippo to mean huge. Whatever message, it is, it is big with potential. It could be one about great power or opportunity, even healing. Consider that water where the hippo spends most of its times symbolizes birth, healing, purification, death, and resurrection.Hippos stay submerged only keeping their eyes, nostrils, and ears above water. They do this because their skin is easily sunburned. They also demonstrate the ability to submerge oneself in water/emotions and come out okay.

The hippo is also known for being ferocious, aggressive and territorial. Examine your life if a hippo has made itself known. Do you need to set clear boundaries, be more assertive? Usually animal messengers appear to give you helpful hints as opposed to high fiving you.